India’s Indigenous Nuclear Missile Tracking Ship To Be Delivered In December

India’s indigenous nuclear missile tracking ship, wrapped in secrecy till now, is set to be delivered in December this year, according to a report by Economic Times.

The report states that the VC11184, a specialised Ocean Surveillance Ship being built for the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), is on its way to completion just over four years after it was ordered as part of the Modi government. It is currently undergoing harbour trials.

“We expect to deliver the ship by December this year,” said Rear Admiral L V Sarath Babu, Chairman & Managing Director of Hindustan Shipyard Limited. “The keel of the vessel was laid in June 2014 and we would have completed it in less than five years. It is a very complex vessel and we have set a new standard for building vessels of such class on time,” he added.

Before the handover, the vessel’s specialised surveillance systems – three dome shaped antennas packed with sensors, will also undergo sea trials to be conducted jointly by the Indian Navy and the NTRO.

The secretive programme is under the direct control of the Prime Minister’s Office and is monitored by the National Security Advisor.

The ship has been built as part of the government’s plan to create a nuclear missile shield for the nation. The ship will track enemy missiles a giving data on tests of ingenious missiles conducted by India.